Automatic valve for watering-troughs.



No. 643,427. Patented Feb. !3, I900. S. S. TEMPLETON. AUTOMATIC VALVE FOB WATERING TRGUGHS.

(Application filed Sept. 9, 1899.)

( No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIcE,

STEPHEN S. TEMPLETON, OF DUNREATH, IOWA.

AUTOMATIC VALVE FOR WATERlNG-TROUGHS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,427, dated February 13, 1900.

Application filed September 9, 1899. Serial No. 730,048. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, STEPHEN S. TEMPLETON, a citizen of the United States, residing atDunreath, in the county of Marion and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Automatic Valve for WVatering-Troughs, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for controlling automatically the flow of water from a source of supply into a drinking-trough, the control of the flow being dependent upon the level of the water in the trough.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of elements hereinafter set forth,pointed outin m y claims, and illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a perspective of the controlling mechanism or automatic valve detached from the trough. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of a trough with my improved mechanism mounted therein.

In the construction of the device as shown the numeral designates the bottom, 11 one of the sides, 12 13 the ends, 14 the cover, and 15 the partition, of a drinking-trough. The partition 15 is so located as to extend transversely of the trough near the end 13 thereof and to contact with the cover 14 and spaced apart from the bottom 10, the spacing apart from the bottom providing a passage-way for the water beneath the partition. The cover 14 is provided with a drinking port or aperture 16 in the end portion thereof between the vertical planes of the end 13 of the trough and the partition 15, through which port an animal mayhave access for drinkingpurposes.

A supply-pipe 17 adapted for communication with a source of water supply, (not shown,) is mounted in and traverses the end 12 of the trough, and a supportingplate 18 is mounted on the inner surface of the end 12 and is provided with a port 19 in alinement and communicating with the discharge end of the supply-pipe. Abolt seat or aperture is formed in the lower central portion of the supportingplate 18 to receive a bolt 20, and a clampingplate 21 is provided and formed with a vertically-arranged slot 22 in its central portion to receive the bolt 20. The plate 21 is clamped to the plate 18 by means of a nut 23, mounted on the inwardly-projecting portion of the bolt 20. A forked wire frame 24 is provided, and the extremities of the armsthereof are clamped between the clamping-plate 21 and the supporting-plate 18. The frame '24 preferably is made of spring-wire and provided with one or more coils 25 26 in the central portions of the arms thereof to add resilience to the structure. The resilience of the frame may be altered and determined to some extent by adjusting the clamping-plate 21 vertically relative to the coils 25 26 of the frame. The upper or closed portion of the resilient frame 24 is curved or bent toward the supporting-plate 18, and a notch 27 is formed in the upper end of said plate, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear. A stud 28 is formed on and projects inwardly from the supporting-plate 18 between and in close proximity to the arms of the resilient frame 24, and it is the function of said stud to maintain the vertical alinement of the frame and prevent lateral oscillation thereof.

A bolt 29 is mounted in the upper portion of the resilient frame 24 and carries a gasket or valve-plate 30 on the outer end or head portion thereof in alinement with and of sufficient size to cover and close the port 19 of the supporting-plate. A washer 31 is interposed between the gasket 30 and the resilient frame on the bolt 29 and is clamped fast to the frame by a nut 32, screwed on the inner extremity of the bolt, a washer 33 being interposed between the nut 32 and the frame.

Studs 34 35 are formed on and project inwardly from the supporting-plate 18 on either side of the port 19 therein. A lever-frame 36 is provided and is formed of a single piece of rigid wire bent in U shape and bent in its arms near its closed end at right angles to the first said bending at the points designated by the numerals 37 38. The bends at the points 37 38 are at acute angles, and obtuse-ang-led bends are formed in the central portions of the arms of the lever-frame, as designated by the numerals 39 40, in order to bring the extremities of the lever-frame into a common horizontal plane. The lever frame 36 is mounted by inserting one corner of its closed end through the notch 27 in the supporting-plate behind the outwardlycurved end of the resilient frame and then torsionally moving the lever-frame into the position shown in the drawings, wherein the portions of the frame between the bends 37 3S and the closed frame are vertical and confined against lateral movement by the studs 34 35. The lever-frame 36 fulcrums on the rounded bends 37 38 against the supportingplate and engages at its closed end against the upper end portion of the resilient frame, and in the downward movement of the arms of the lever-frame such fulcruming and engagement will oscillate the resilient frame and uncover the gasket 30 from the port 19 and permit the flow of water into the trough.

A float i1 is provided and hung by means of screw-eyes 42 43 on the upturned extremities of the arms of the lever-frame within the trough and approximately parallel with the cover 14. Unless the float is sustained, as shown in Fig. 2, by water in the trough the weight of the float on the lever-frame will be suflicient to cause said frame to hold the Valve open and permit the filling of the trough to the desired degree. When the trough has filled to the desired degree, the water therein will buoy or elevate the float, thereby relieving the weight thereof from the lever-frame and permit the closing of the gasket 30 over the port 19 by the action of the resilient frame, thereby cutting off the flow of Water into the trough until the level thereof is lowered by evaporation or drinkin g of water therefrom.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination of a trough, a supplypipe communicating therewith, a supportingplate mounted in the trough and formed with a port communicating with the discharge end of the supply-pipe, a resilient frame made of spring-Wire and provided with a coil in each of its parallel end portions and adjustably mounted on said supporting-plate, a Valve carried by said resilient frame and arranged to be held thereby over the port in the supporting-plate, a lever-frame mounted on the supporting-plate and engaging the resilient frame and a float suspended on said leverframe.

2. The valve mechanism comprising a supporting-plate formed with a supply-port therein, a resilient frame mounted for longitudinal adjustment on said supporting-plate, a Valve mounted on the free end portion of the resilient frame, a lever whereby said frame may be oscillated in one direction and a float on said lever.

3. The valve mechanism comprising the supporting-plate, formed with a supply-port therein, the resilient frame mounted longitudinally of the supporting-plate, a clampingplate mounted on the supporting-plate and adjustable longitudinally of the resilient frame, one end of the frame being confined between the supporting and clamping plates, a valve on the resilient frame and arranged to close the supply-port, and a lever connected with the resilient frame and arranged for gravity operation in one direction and float operation in the other direction to open and close the valve respectively.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, the forked resilient frame formed with coils in the arms thereof, the clamp holding one end of said frame, the valve on said frame and means for oscillating said frame.

5. In a mechanism of the character described, the supporting-plate, formed with a supply port therein, the resilient frame clamped to said plate and extended longitudinally thereof, the stud on the supportingplate projecting through the frame, the lever engaging said frame, the studs on the supporting-plate embracing the lever and the float suspended on said lever.

6. In a device of the class described, the forked resilient frame, means for supporting said frame, a bolt extended through the closed end portion of said frame, the gasket mounted on said bolt, means for clamping said gasket to the frame and means for oscillating said frame, in combination with a trough having a supply-port arranged to be closed by said gasket.

STEPHEN S. TEMPLETON.

Witnesses:

O. J. APLIN, J. W. CATLIN. 

